BrOp's "Cult of the Ebon Destroyers" (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

"Sh..", Farouq mutters, trying to make out what he cast.

Spellcraft: 1d20+4

Sorry. Ask Daxter.

" He teleported away Farouq." He says shaking his head, as if it was obvious what happened.

After gathering your belongings (and a few of other's) you head back up the corridor you left to explore before entering this room. At the end of the 10' hallway, you find three small cells, each obviously for one of the three leaders of the cult. Zaafira's has a large dressing table with a large mirror. You find many beautiful saris in neat rows in two beautiful wooden wardrobes.

Deepti's quartes are much more austere, and lack any source of artificial light. A wooden board on the far wall was obviously used for target practice for her chakrams.

The mage Ikrimah's room is covered in a thick layer of dust. Obviously nobody has been here in a while. An empty bookshelf in the corner is the only personal touch to the room.

You think that Zaafira's saris may be of some worth, and also find a small bag of onyx and jet gemstone in Deepti's room.

The mage Ikrimah's room is covered in a thick layer of dust. Obviously nobody has been here in a while. An empty bookshelf in the corner is the only personal touch to the room.

"This probably isn't the place he called home..."

"Hmm", Ursus muses while examining the fine garments.

"I know a few girls back at the Ox that will go crazy over these", he says with a grin.

From the living quarters, you head back south to the dojo, where you head downstairs to the main fighting arena. The center of the room is a large platform, raised a foot off the ground and filled with hard-packed sand. Two double doors lead south (presumably to the rest of the temple) and a single double door with a large bolt barring it heads west. Ursus pulls the bar aside, and Takuma takes a quick look into the interior with his darkvision.

The room is fairly small, measuring only ten feet in width and 25 feet in depth, and contains no light. At the end of the room, a smooth shaft, only four feet in diameter drops down into the floor. The stench of feces, urine, and old sweat emanates from the hole.

Takuma stoically ignores the foul stench and looks down into the pit with his darkvision.

The shaft drops down 20 feet before being covered by a latched gate. Takuma can tell that below the gate, the shaft opens up into a small room. He thinks he can see the outlines of people down there. He also notices a long rope coiled up in the corner of the room he is standing in. Out of the darkness you hear a voice speaking in Vudrani,

** spoiler omitted **

A hoarse, yet beautiful female voice calls out from below.

"I think they may be victims of the cult, kept here against their will." Daxter says to the rest of his party.

Sense Motive when they answer
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Ursus may may not understand what's being said but he recogizes a woman's voice when he hears it. Coughing as the strong scents threaten to overwhelm his enhanced senses the big Ulfen kneels at the pit's edge.

Is there a way down to the hatch. Are the walls of the pit climbable?

"Not good," Farouq looks down into the pit, "I think we might need a bit more light," and casts dancing lights to illuminate the pit.

With a bit of work you get the prisoners out of the pit. They are very dirty and smelly, but otherwise seem to be in decent health. From what they heard the cult members talking about, they were being kept alive in order to sacrifice them at a more auspicious time.

There are two men, Samar and Haljit, and a woman, Jalissa. All are Vudrani and all were part of a caravan that passed too close a while back. Being without any light, they are unaware how much time has passed. Samar and Haljit were caravan guards, while Jalissa is a monk (or as she calls it, an "Acolyte of Peace") who has taken a vow of nonviolence. She has an almost otherworldly beauty about her that is hard to pin down. (In game terms, the men are both warrior 2's, while the woman is an adept 6).

"Looks like you are back," Farouq greets them with a smile. After letting them recover he asks: "When you got captured and placed here, do you know how many people are around here, or if anything is strange here?"

Ursus offers the former prisoners water (or mead if they'll have it).

"Little guy, you have any more of those magic berries? Trail rations might be too hard on their stomachs".

Even in the horrible conditions the big Ulfen can't help but be taken in by the woman's beauty. He offers a flirtatious wink and a grin as he passes her the drinking skin.

I am assuming Daxter is translating.

"We'll get you out of here as soon as we can. We have to make sure there are no more of those cultists in the temple. Don't worry, you'll be safe with us", he says flexing one massive arm.

"Little guy, you have any more of those magic berries? Trail rations might be too hard on their stomachs".

"Here you go" Aquila says while he hands the three former prisoners a goodberry each.

Yes, Daxter will translate.

Daxter asks them if they know anything about the complex If they do not, he welcomes them to come with the party for safety.

The prisoners were all drugged before they were brought here and no next to nothing about the rest of the complex.

You eventually find Ikrimah's layer, a strange twisting labyrinth carved out with disintegrate spells. In it you find his spellbook, alchemical equipment, strange arcane paraphernalia, and rare spell components. You also discover three potions of mage armor, five smokesticks, four tanglefoot bags, and two everburning torches.

Searching the rest of the complex, you discover the acolyte quarters, the larder, and the refectory. None contain anything of particular value.

Finally you are in front of the final corridor, which according to your first interrogation victim, contains the main shrine. It seems to be the last room left to explore in the entire complex. The corridor is 15' feet long and then opens into a large, shadowy chamber, which has a square shrine recessed into the wall opposite the entrance. The room seems empty, but from your angle down the corridor, you can't see the near corners of the room.

Daxter will refill Takuma's and Ursus' Ioun stones using their wands. Daxter will also cast Shield on himself before he will continue further.

"Thank you Honorable Daxter-San", Takuma says as he enters the room to check the rooms extremities with his darkvision.

"It is not a problem. Just do not try to throw your life away again, Serah Takuma."

The room contains hidden dangers, so I'll have everyone make Perception checks: Aquila 9+24=32; Farouq 11+13=24; Daxter 18+1=19; Garra 12+14=26; Takuma 15+2=17; Montesquieu 17+9=26; Ursus 12+9=21

Ursus sniffs the air, "What's that smell..."

"I feel a presence here, an unsettling one." Daxter says as he looks around.

The big Ulfen sniffs the air again and growls, "I have a bad feeling about this".

As Takuma steps into the shrine, he is blindsided by a black spear, which catches him in the right shoulder. Quickly turning, he sees an olive-skinned creature which looks exactly like the depictions of Dhalavei you've seen all over the temple. She has three heads mounted atop broad shoulders and four arms. Two hold the black spear which hurt him, while the others hold a wicked-looking kukri and a temple sword. The creature's otherworldly appearance is enhanced by the fact that it seems to be hard to see: one's eye always seems to drift away from it. (Takuma takes 20 hp of damage)

ROUND 1
Garra 19+5 = 24
Daxter 15+7 = 22
Ursus 17+3 = 20
Farouq 14+4 = 18
Adjo 13+3 = 16
Creature = 14
Takuma 10+0 = 10
Montesquieu 7+1=8
Aquila 1+1 = 2

COMBAT MAP

Daxter not sure of what is in the room, starts summoning from the outer planes. Though you are not sure which one.

When Daxter can see it he will attempt to identify it.
Knowledge(The creature)
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

1-round action Summon Monster 4.

Hermes the ever brave Aeon flies over and casts a spell on Montesquieu.
The half-orc feels the divine protection of the gods and no one shall ever dare to harm him.

Move Action Fly to T34, right above the bard.

Standard Action Cast Sanctuary on Montesquieu.

Ursus growls in frustration as he quickly notes how difficult it is to keep an eye on the creature, "It's some sort of shadowy many-headed woman - only one set of teats though. This might be the 'guardian' that cultist was talking about'".

Fishing the crumpled scroll back out of his pack again, the Ulfen reads it aloud while glaring at the new enemy.

Hunter's Eye: SR
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Montesquieu with the power of the gods behind him walks into the room and starts a story about how an aspect of tiamat was annihilated by a band of adventurers and how this aspect would fare no different.

Move Action - Move to V31
The creature can take an AOO, but must make a DC15 Will save to do so thanks to sanctuary.

Standard Action - Inspire Courage

Aquila uses his ioun stone to cast shield on Garra and sends his eagle in for the attack.

Garra moves to R32 (provoking an attack of oppotunity) and attacks.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
1d4 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
1d6 ⇒ 1 electric

Just noticed that the guardian acts before Aquila, so he might do something totally different...

Farouq will send Adjo in to attack (maybe AOO also to go into flanking with Takuma) and cast barkskin on himself. And move into Montesqieu's place.

Adjo:
to hit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
miss chance (at least to I guess), high is good:1d100 ⇒ 84

ROUND 1 CONTINUES

Garra delays

Daxter begins casting spell, Hermes moves and casts.

Upon casting the spell, the creature immediately comes into sharp focus for the Ulfen warrior. (Draw scroll and cast spell)

Farouq delays

Adjo delays

ROUND 1 CONTINUES

The yet-to-be-identified creatures lashes out with all of its arms and weapons at the still unprepared Takuma, scoring two hits that sneak around the semi-orc's armor. (Full attack vs ff AC: spear attack1 hits AC 18, miss; spear attack2 hits AC 29, hit! Damage 24' s[ear attack3 automisses; temple sword attack his AC 18, miss; kukri attack hits AC 23, hit! Damage 10; total damage to Takuma: 34)

Remaining initiative:
Garra in delay
Farouq in delay
Adjo in delay
Takuma
Montesquieu
Aquila

Takuma is nearly spun in place by the spear blow from the multi-armed creature.

In the blink of an eye the semi-orc's katana is in hand held between himself and the guardian. With his other Takuma grasps the ioun stone gently orbiting around him and invokes its power.

"The power of your goddess is broken fiend. Surrender!"

Free Action - Draw Weapon, Standard Shield, Move - Step to T31

Aquila uses his ioun stone to cast shield on Garra and sends his eagle in for the attack.

Garra moves to R32 (provoking an attack of oppotunity) and attacks.

1d20+14
1d4+10
1d6 electric

Just noticed that the guardian acts before Aquila, so he might do something totally different...

See above and Aquila moves to T33

ROUND 1 CONTINUED

Montesquieu moves past the six-armed creature, relying on the sanctuary spell to protect him. Sadly, she sees through his flimsy magical wards and thrusts her spear at him as he goes by. It catches the half-orc through the throat, rupturing every major artery in his neck and nearly decapitating him in the process. He drops immediately, his body still twitching in a bright pool of his blood. (move action; creature takes AoO and crits; damage = 78 hp)

Shocked by the murder of their friend, the others rush in.

Garra swoops around the creature, but his claws are unable to penetrate her thick skin. (move, attack and miss)

Remaining initiative:
Farouq in delay
Adjo in delay
Aquila

Farouq will move forward into Montiesqieu's square, casting burning disarm at the creature.

And then sends Adjo in, to attack the creature.

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Farouq will move forward into Montiesqieu's square, casting burning disarm at the creature.

And then sends Adjo in, to attack the creature.

Farouq concentrates on the spell, immediately encountering resistance as he tries to overcome the creature's innate resistance to magic. Focusing his mind, he attempts to cut through the defenses, but ultimately fails. (Caster level check 5 + 7 = 12 vs SR, spell fizzles)

Adjo moves past Farouq and Ursus, hardly noticing the dead half-orc at his feat as he lashes out with his powerful claws. The creature deflects the attack easily with its kukri. (Attack fails)

(Aquila 5'-steps and casts his spell on Garra)

COMBAT MAP

ROUND 2

Initiative:
Daxter
Hermes
Ursus
Creature
Takuma
Farouq
Adjo
Aquila
Garra

Daxter finishes casting his spell. Just as that happens a powerfully built, dog-headed humanoid appears. His greatsword shining with the holiness that can only come from the heavens. The outsiders looks at the one who summoned him with confusion.

The Hound Archon appears in T30 and 5 foots into S31(All creatures within 10 feet are in his Magic Circle versus Evil) +2 AC/Saves versus Evil Creatures.

The creature needs to make a DC 16 Will save versus the Archon's Aura of Menace.

SR Check for Summon
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Full Attack
Primary
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

Iterative
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 = 10

Bite
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Daxter and Hermes both move into the room very carefully. They move to the back of the room where hopefully it is safe.Daxter stares at the creature with anger as he casts his spell." You will suffer for what you have done." He brings out what looks to be a chicken bone and breaks it in two. Hermes total defenses hoping to not get spear in two like the noble half orc.

Move Action - Move to W32(Both)

Standard - Boneshatter
SR Check
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Fortitude Save
8d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 3, 4, 6, 1, 6) = 35 and exhausted

Save for Half and Fatigued Instead.

Ursus glares at the lion that just crowded in front of him and then back at Farouq,"Can you move your beast?"

Delay

ROUND 2

As the hound archon steps in, the creature immediately switches its focus on it completely. The celestial's first blow strikes true, inflicting a nasty wound on the many-headed female.

Daxter and Hermes sneak by her as she is distracted by the hound archon. As he casts his spell, he sees a look of pain and surprise break across her face. She screams as bruises appear all over her body, and she looks significantly weaker. (CL check successful, full damage and she is exhausted)

The creature lashes out with restrained fury at the hound archon, landing two blows on it that fail to bring it down. Once she hits the celestial, however, she regains a bit of her composure, although none of her energy.(Two of five attacks hit and do a total of 16 hp of damage)

The samurai strikes at the creature, but is unable to land a solid blow. (Takuma full attacks creature: 2 + 15 = 17, miss; attack2 4 + 10 = 14, miss.)

Remaining Initiative:
Ursus (in delay)
Farouq
Adjo
Aquila
Garra

Aquila casts faery fire!

SR 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Aquila casts faery fire!

SR 1d20+8

faction reroll 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Garra attacks

claw
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
1d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
1d6 ⇒ 6 electric

claw
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
1d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
1d6 ⇒ 2 electric

bite
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
1d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
1d6 ⇒ 3 electric

Garra is going to get a Amulet of Agile fists when this is all over.

Adjo attacks:
bite 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
damage 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

claw 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

claw 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

then steps backwards to U30

can Farouq delay after Ursus went?

Thanks Pete

Ursus steps forward over the remains of his friend to T32. Fur sprouts like wildfire across his burly frame as his transformation occurs within the blink of an eye. Growling, he brandishes his ursine claws.

"Now it's personal!" the bestial Ulfen roars.

Rage, Focus

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32
1d4 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
1d4 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
1d4 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Confirming...
1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
1d4 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

Anger and fury wells up in Farouq, and then he rushes to R32, drawing an attack of opportunity, and striking at the creature with his earth breaker.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 1) + 7 = 10

Adjo attacks:

claw 1d20+12
damage 1d6+7

The creature is able to deflect all but one of the lion's attacks, but the claw is unable to penetrate the creature's stout defenses. (one attack hit but was soaked up by DR)

Ursus' massive blows are able to almost bring the creature to its knees.

Farouq rushes around the far side of the multi-armed woman, drawing a weak punch with her black spear (which does 10 hp of damage). Once in position he strikes with his earthbreaker, but is unable to damage it.

Aquila's spell fizzles as he tries to cast it, and Garra's attacks are no more effective than Adjo's.

COMBAT MAP

ROUND 3

Initiative:
Daxter
Hound Archon
Hermes
Creature
Takuma
Adjo
Ursus
Farouq
Aquila
Garra

The Hound Archon Continues to attacking the avatar of evil(tm).
He decides to put some recklessness into his already powerful blows to finish off the monster.

Full Attack - Power Attack

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 2) + 9 = 17

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 1) + 9 = 13

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Daxter decides to finish her in a manner suitable to the cult, cold and without mercy.

Standard Action - Cast Frigid Touch

Move Action - Move to R31

Free - Attempt to Touch Her

SR
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Shirt reroll for SR
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Touch Attack
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 versus touch.

5d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 4, 4) = 15 cold damage and staggered